Family Ministry challenges court decision to release sergeants suspect in child sex abuse case

BİNGÖL

Locals in Bingöl gather in front of the courthouse to protest the release of the accused officers. DHA photo

The Family and Social Policies Ministry has challenged a court decision to release five sergeants suspected of sexually abusing a minor in the southeastern province of Bingöl. 

The five army officers accused of molesting a 16-year-old girl over the last two years had been initially detained as part of the investigation, but were later released following an appeal made to the court.
The victim, identified by her name’s initials E.A., who confirmed the identity of her assaulter, was also taken under the ministry’s protection following Şahin’s instructions. 

Reports that sergeants suspected of sexually abusing a minor had been set free have prompted reactions from Turkish ministers.

Şahin had first reacted with a tweet “We will not stand silent by the rape case in Bingöl,” using the hashtag #BingöldekiTecavüzeSessizKalma (Do not stand silent against the rape in Bingöl).

“My friends [at the Ministry] are investigating the issue in its all details. If need be we, the ministry, will be involved in the case,” she had written on her official Twitter account.

EU Minister Egemen Bağış was also quick to react to the hashtag and the incident, writing, “The release of five sergeants who are suspected of sexual abuse is a misery.”

The report has stirred great indignation, especially on social media as the hashtag referring to it became a trending topic on Twitter.